Rachel Booth
Age 22
Year 2, University of Teesside
Before starting my degree I did A-level art, and photography as well as an AVCE in Health and Social Care. I have also worked as an assistant occupational therapist in an acute psychiatric setting. It was this experience that made me realise occupational therapy is the career for me.
I feel having a personal experience of disability can be a positive attribute particularly in occupational therapy as the profession promotes independence and helps individuals and society to overcome barriers. As a student I have found my disability and dyslexia means I have been able to bring real experiences to my own and others learning. I have been student representative for my group during my first year and continue to do this during the second year. Student life is great and my disability does not stand in the way, like everyone else I work hard but party hard as well!
The university, my tutors and placement educators have been very supportive and have made adaptations to help me. I have extra time and an amanuensis in formal exams as well as being supplied with equipment such as reading and writing software for the computer. The coping strategies I had put in place myself over the years I find are successful in both the university and placement settings because I have been open about my disability and dyslexia and what problems this causes me.
Amy Dyer
Age 29
Year 3, University College Northampton
Before starting university I spent some time travelling. I also had a number of jobs ranging from working at the Open University to corporate banking. Whilst good for saving money these jobs convinced me that my long-term aim of a career change was always what I wanted.
I had wanted to train as a special needs teacher but whilst travelling I met two OTs who told me about their careers. I was very interested in the variety they had experienced in their careers despite having been qualified only a few years. I was quickly convinced by two English OTs over the other side of the world who oozed enthusiasm for their profession. Travelling and experiencing life in a variety of cultures also enhanced my interest in people and what they do.
I am currently in my final year on the full-time degree course. I chose this route as I had spent some time in a few different OT services prior to applying and I decided that I wanted to study full-time as this was the quickest route available to me.
I have enjoyed all aspects of the course. The professional practice placements have been especially enjoyable. They clarify the theory and turn it into real situations with real people. They also work as a reminder and incentive of the reason I am studying. One particularly memorable experience was working alongside my supervisor with a young man with an acquired brain injury. Watching his life come together as he gained confidence in everyday skills was very rewarding. Realising the simplest things that we take for granted, like crossing the road can mean so much to an individual when they are lost and then regained.
My ambitions currently are to achieve a good pass in my degree and secure a basic grade job on a varied rotation. In the future I would like to do some further study and look at promoting the future of OT. One day I would also love to combine occupational therapy with my passion for travel by volunteering to work as an occupational therapist in a third world country. The most positive experience in returning to study as been the confidence that has grown inside me realising that I can do it. Meeting fellow OT students is also a big encouragement. Sharing the ups and the downs and making friends that I hope will last a life time.
John Dale
Age 39
Year 2, University College Northampton
At the age of 38 I embarked on a BSc OT course. The support of my family (and the NHS Bursary!) has enabled me to rejoin the academic community after an absence of nearly 20 years. To gain access onto the course I took A-Level biology and gained experience in an OT department as a Technical Instructor.
The transition from full-time work to full-time student was rather pleasant (apart from going from 4 wheels to 2 last November) but self-discipline is needed in abundance to use study days for their intended purpose! Term 1 saw us studying a variety of seemingly very different modules on campus, but its fallen into place now in term 2, now that we have started our practice placements.
Northampton, unlike some Universities, divides 1 st year placements into two blocks of 5 weeks, one being mental health, the other being in a physical setting. Most of us on the course got the placements we'd chosen which can be all over the country and usually involve a 9am-5pm day, which has meant a bit of juggling where the kids are concerned! The placements really give a flavour of what OT is all about and are good coming early in the course. We get to have more in the 2 nd and 3 rd year.
Assignments have been varied but involve some written, assessed pieces, which are scary, not having written an essay for many years, but a good learning experience! So far, so good and the nightlife's pretty good as well.
